Memory control method for a personal video recording system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a PVR system ( 100 ) making choices to store or remove certain programs in or from a memory ( 102 ) in order to create space for new programs to be stored in the memory. The choices are arranged in a list ( 201 ) of programs to be stored and a list ( 211 ) of programs to be erased from the memory. After these lists have been generated by the system ( 100 ), they are presented to the user for the purpose of confirmation and possible modifications. In this way, the user is aware of the choices made by the system and the method according to the invention enables him to confirm multiple choices by the system in one action. An operating device ( 104 ) is provided with a key ( 301 ) which is specifically intended to confirm choices made by the system ( 100 ).

[0001] The invention relates to a memory control method for a systemwhich is adapted to store audiovisual information in a memory, in whichprograms with audiovisual information are selected and selected programsare automatically stored in the memory, and, in case of lack of space,programs stored in the memory are further selected and the furtherselected programs are erased so as to create space for new programs tobe stored, and in which furthermore a first list of selected programs tobe stored in the memory and a second list of further selected programsto be erased from the memory are generated.

[0002] The invention also relates to an apparatus for operating a systemadapted to store audiovisual information in a memory.

[0003] An embodiment of such a method is known from WO 92/229893.

[0004] In personal video recorder (PVR) systems, certain programs arestored in a memory on the basis of knowledge, present in the system, ofthe user's preference. The user may have entered this preference intothe system himself by selecting certain programs for storage in thememory. However, it is alternatively possible that the system keepstrack of the user's behavior and thus gains knowledge about the user'spreference for certain programs. Based on this information, the PVRsystem itself can select programs for storage in the memory. In a PVR,these programs can be stored on an optical disc, a hard disc drive oranother type of memory incorporated in the system.

[0005] When the memory gets full, programs must be erased to reservespace in the memory for new programs to be stored. The PVR system mayselect programs stored in the memory for removal from the memory on thebasis of different criteria. These criteria may be criteria indicated bythe user himself, for example, these programs can be erased, the userhas already seen the programs, the user has informed the system that heis not interested in programs, the oldest program must be erased fromthe memory (FIFO system) or other criteria.

[0006] If the system itself selects the programs to be stored in anderased from the memory, this may lead to the user's disappointment. Theuser's preference may have been modified or the system may haveinsufficient knowledge about the user. As a result, programs that theuser likes to have in the memory are not stored in the memory. It mayalso happen that the user still wants to keep programs which areselected to be erased.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a more user-friendlysystem adapted to store audiovisual information in a memory.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved in that aftereach decision by the system to add at least a program to a first listwith selected programs to be stored in the memory, the first list isdisplayed on a display device for confirmation by a user, and in thatafter each decision by the system to add at least a program to a secondlist with selected programs to be erased from the memory, the secondlist is displayed on a display device for confirmation by a user.

[0009] Programs to be stored in or erased from the memory may beselected, for example, after a period of several days or once a week.The user is informed about the selection after the system has selectedthe programs, for example, when the user switches on the system for thefirst time after the selection.

[0010] The invention has the advantage that the system is veryuser-friendly because the user accepts the confirmation of the list, theselections of the PVR system for storage of programs in and removal ofprograms from the memory all at the same time in a passive actioninstead of having to do this for each program. An additional advantageis that the user confirms several choices of the system by means of anaction.

[0011] It is also possible that the system enables the user to modifythe first and/or second list before confirming this list. This has theadvantage that the user is given the opportunity to modify choices madeby the system if the user does not agree on these choices.

[0012] The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in thatthe apparatus is provided with a key to enable the user to confirmchoices made by the system. In this way, the user has a specific keyavailable for confirming choices by the system and he no longer needs towonder which generic key has this function if choices made by the systemare to be confirmed.

[0013] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from andwill be elucidated with reference to the embodiments describedhereinafter.

[0014] In the drawings:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a PVR systemaccording to the invention,

[0016]FIG. 2A shows a possibility of displaying a list of programs to berecorded,

[0017]FIG. 2B shows a possibility of displaying a list of programs to bedeleted,

[0018]FIG. 3 shows a possible operating panel of a possible PVR system.

[0019] A possible implementation of the invention will be described withreference to the drawing. FIG. 1 shows a PVR system which isillustrative of the implementation of the invention. This systemcomprises a processing unit 101, a first memory 102 for storingaudiovisual data, a second memory 103 for information about the user'spreferences for certain programs, an operating panel 104 and a displayscreen 105. FIG. 3 shows the operating panel 104 in greater detail. Itwill be elucidated below.

[0020] The system 100 in FIG. 1 preferably generates a list of programsat the start of a period of several days, which programs will betransmitted in the coming period and can be received by the system via aconnection 106. This selection can take place on the basis of the user'spreference, which preference is stored in the second memory 103 in theimplementation of a PVR system as shown in the Figure. However, thisinformation may be alternatively available in the first memory 102. Thisinformation may be based on the user's behavior in the past, whichinformation is processed by the processing unit 101, but the user mayalso select specific programs by means of the operating panel 104 forstorage in the first memory 102. The programs selected for storage inthe first memory 102 are arranged in a list which is stored in thesecond memory 103. However, this information may be alternatively storedin the first memory 102.

[0021] If the first memory 102 appears to have too little space, theprocessing unit 101 selects programs to be erased from the first memory102. This may be effected on the basis of knowledge about the user'spreference, which is stored in the second memory 103 in theimplementation shown, on the basis of a FIFO algorithm, according towhich the oldest programs are erased from the first memory, on the basisof knowledge whether the user has already watched the program, stored inthe second memory 103, or on the basis of at least another criterion.The programs selected for removal from the first memory 102 are arrangedin a list which is stored in memory 103.

[0022] There may be the problem that the contents of the generated listsdo not correspond to the user's wishes, in spite of the fact that thelists have been generated on the basis of knowledge about the user'spreference. According to the invention, the previously mentioned listsare therefore presented to the user after they have been generated bythe system 100. This takes place at the instant when the user switcheson the system 100 for the first time after the system has generated anew list of programs to be stored in the first memory 102 and, ifnecessary, has generated a new list of programs to be erased from thefirst memory.

[0023] The list of programs to be stored can be presented on the displayscreen 105 (FIG. 1) in the way as is shown in FIG. 2A. A first list 201of programs selected for storage in the first memory 102 is shown to theuser. The user is given the opportunity to confirm this first list 201if he agrees on the selection of programs to be stored in the firstmemory 102 and as generated by the system 100. Confirmation may be givenby pressing a key 301 on the operating panel 104 (see FIG. 3). However,the operating panel 104 may alternatively comprise a different actuatorenabling the user to confirm choices made by the system 100. However, itis also possible to show a pointer 205 on the screen 105 and a key 203underneath the list of selected programs 202, to which the user candirect the pointer by using operating panel 104 in FIG. 3 and can selectthe key for confirmation. This is possible by providing said operatingpanel with, for example, a trackball 303 or cursor keys 304.

[0024] If the user does not agree on the selection of programs to bestored in the memory and generated by the system 100 (FIG. 1), the usercan first modify the presented first list 201 before he confirms thefirst list by means of the method described hereinbefore. The user isgiven the opportunity to indicate that he wants to modify the first listby pressing the key 302 on the operating panel 104 or by directing thepointer 205 on the screen 105 by means of the cursor keys 304 or thetrackball 303 on the operating panel 104 to the key 204 and selectingthis key. Subsequently, the user may modify the presented first list byentering correct or extra data into the system by means of keys on theoperating panel 104 (not shown).

[0025] These methods of confirming the first list 201 of programs to bestored in the memory and of modifying and subsequently confirming thislist may be used in a corresponding manner for confirming or modifyingand confirming a second list 211 of programs to be erased from thememory. The reference numerals in FIG. 2B correspond to those in FIG.2A, be it that they have been incremented by 10.

1. A memory control method for a system (100) which is adapted to storeaudiovisual information in a memory (102), in which programs withaudiovisual information are selected and selected programs areautomatically stored in the memory (102), and, in case of lack of space,programs stored in the memory (102) are further selected and the furtherselected programs are erased so as to create space for new programs tobe stored, and in which furthermore a first list (201) of selectedprograms to be stored in the memory (102) and a second list (211) offurther selected programs to be erased from the memory (102) aregenerated, characterized in that after each decision by the system (100)to add at least a program to the first list (201), the first list (201)is displayed on a display device (105) for confirmation by a user, aftereach decision by the system (100) to add at least a program to thesecond list (211), the second list (211) is displayed on a displaydevice (105) for confirmation by a user.
 2. A method as claimed in claim1, characterized in that, upon presentation of a list to the user forthe purpose of confirmation, the user is given the opportunity to modifythe displayed list by way of entry means (104) before the user confirmsthe list.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that thefirst and the second list are generated on the basis of knowledge,present in the system (100), about the user's preference for certainprograms.
 4. An apparatus comprising a system (100) which is adapted tostore audiovisual information in a memory, the apparatus comprising aprocessing unit (101) which is adapted to select programs withaudiovisual information and store selected programs in the memory (102)for further selecting programs stored in the memory (102) in the case oflack of space and erase further selected programs so as to create spacefor new programs to be stored, and to generate a first list of selectedprograms (201) and a second list of further selected programs (211),characterized in that the processing device (101) is further adapted todisplay the first list (201) on a display device (105) for confirmationby a user after each decision by the system (101) to add at least aprogram to the first list (201), and display the second list (211) on adisplay device (105) for confirmation by a user after each decision bythe system to add at least a program to the second list (211).
 5. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that, when a list ispresented to the user for the purpose of confirmation, the processingunit (101) is further adapted to enable the user to modify the displayedlist by way of entry means (104) before the user confirms the list. 6.An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the processingunit (101) is further adapted to generate the first and the second listson the basis of knowledge, present in the system (100), about the user'spreference for certain programs.
 7. An operating device (104) foroperating the apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that theoperating device (104) is provided with a key (301) to enable the userto confirm choices made by the system (100).